Lita's New Year's Cookie Scramble Chapter 8 Hope for the Dawn, a sailor moon fanfic

Lita's New Year's Cookie Scramble
By Douglas Helm and "Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl

This story and our other Sailor Moon stories reside at our Shoujo Fiction .com domain. Comments are welcomed and encouraged.

Chapter 8 - Hope for the Dawn

"Is she asleep?" Raye asked softly. She, Mina, and Amy were waiting around the kitchen table in the private quarters of the Cherry Hill Temple for Lita and Serena to arrive.

Mina glanced down at the former teen now toddler sitting in her lap, took a sip from a cup of orange juice, and then looked back at the raven-haired preteen. "Probably." She yawned herself and grinned. "I wish those two would hurry up and get here. I wanna sleep myself... if I can." Amy seemed to have figured out a way to sleep despite all of the excitement. "What do you think they're doing, Raye?"

"You really wanna know?" Raye asked, one eyebrow cocked. When her petite blonde friend nodded, the priestess went on casually, "Oh... I think Serena is making a point."

"About what?"

"About the fact that she's in charge and breaking rules could be shall we say painful." She tried not to smile at the wide-eyed look Mina was giving her. 'Serena's controlling her temper so I'm sure she won't do anything too heavy-handed. Of course, Lita did pick a bad time to test her limits.'

Amy gave a snort, jerked into an upright position from her slump and looked around. "Is Sewena he'e?"

"Sure am!" came a new voice as Serena came into the room with little Lita trailing behind her.

Amy slid from the chair and ran over while holding up her arms. The middle-aged woman chuckled and bent to scoop the toddler up. "Oh, you're SO huggable," Serena cooed while hugging Amy to her bosom.

The toddler snuggled closer, giggling until a yawn interrupted it. "I like hugs," the little girl confessed with a grin and then asked more seriously, "Am I really huggable?" She never really considered herself cute even when she was small.

"You are so huggable, I might hug the poop right out of you," the pigtailed blonde remarked. Mina made a face but Raye snickered.

"Now you sound like my mo-grandpa," Raye commented as Serena sat down, adjusting Amy so the youngster was facing the other two.

"Yeah, yeah... okay," Mina remarked and watched intently as she drank more of her juice as Lita hopped up and gingerly settled herself into a chair. The beribboned blonde decided that asking wouldn't be good. Instead, she inquired, "So when's our next Scout meeting?"

"Next week I suppose... After we leave tomorrow, we'll need to figure out some other non-Scout stuff first."

"I think my situation will be the easiest," the raven-haired preteen admitted, "Grandpa doesn't seem to have a clue that I've changed. Things might be a little harder to hide at school..." She frowned for a moment and then shrugged. "Really, I'm pretty sure I haven't changed enough that it'll make a really big deal." 'It's just back to training bras for a while.'

"Which raises a question," Lita commented.

"What?" Amy prompted.

The brunette shrugged. "Nothing too important I guess. I was just wondering why our ages vary so much? I mean shouldn't we all be the same age right now?" The blue-haired toddler look thoughtful as Lita continued, "I can see why I was first... I snuck a couple cookies before I came over."

"That's a good point," Raye interjected with a frown, "Would quantity have anything to do with it, Amy?" The young genius didn't answer. Her half-lidded eyes were staring at the light hanging over the table. "Amy?"

"Wha... What?" Amy asked blinking and looking mildly confused as she stared at the faces regarding her.

"Would quantities of whatever Reenie added make a difference in what our ages turned out to be?"

The preschooler frowned but after a few seconds nodded. "Quite possible. Let's find out... How many did you have, Waye?"

"Me?" Raye considered. "Most of one and part of another." Seeing the sad look her ponytailed friend was giving her, she amended quickly, "I was nervous, Lita. I was stressing about things going well..." 'Seems pretty stupid now.' "Your cookies were excellent."

"Thanks Raye," Lita replied with a grin then she frowned, "Well... I had four, no five." She tapped her lip and then added, "Like I said I snuck a couple of those at home so that explains why I started my change earlier than you guys."

"That is logical," Amy stated. "Mina?"

"Um, three or four... I'm not real sure." The little blonde shrugged. "But it'd be less than Lita, right?"

"Unless things weren't mixed evenly," the brunette speculated.

"I don't think so... I know I ate seven."

"Amy Anderson!" Serena exclaimed while Raye, Lita, and Mina gaped in disbelief at their friend. "I thought I was the only cookie monster around here."

"I was hungwy... I didn't have any supper," Amy explained while blushing.

"Okay, Ms. Cookie Monster," Raye drawled with a teasing note, "How many did you have?"

Serena tried to look offended but the grin pulling at her mouth betrayed her. "A bunch... To be honest, I don't really know an exact number but I ate whatever ones were left in the jar. They were really really good cookies, Lita." The others nodded and Lita smiled with pleasure.

"Well, it makes sense..." Amy shrugged.

"It does? Then how's come Serena got so lucky?" Mina wondered, bottom lip jutting out in a pout that made her look rather cute. "I mean she can do all sort of stuff now and not get ragged on by her 'rents."

"Don't think it's all gravy, Mina," Serena argued. "Yeah, I'm seen as an adult now but I'm not silly enough to think that." She shook her head slowly. "Nope, I have to think about a job and where I'll live, paying bills, and everything like that. Plus there's going to be some sticky issues about where thirty years of my life went. I can't live with my parents and annoy Sammy and..." 'Why couldn't I have been twenty-one?'

"Well, you can stay at my place," Lita offered, "It's all paid for."

"Won't that change with you... I mean..." Serena waved at Lita's new body.

The ponytailed brunette shook her head. "Nope. My aunt is trustee. She makes sure my bills are paid and I have enough money to spend on food and stuff..." Lita shrugged. "She's never had much to do with us. She doesn't see me, doesn't WANT to 'cept when it's absolutely necessary. I get whatever's left of my parents' estate when I'm twenty-one so we have lots of time." She shrugged. "But that doesn't answer Mina's question. I mean... well... Shouldn't Serena be a newborn right now?" She giggled. "Sorry."

"Yes," Amy commented and then shrugged, "Possibly due to the extweme dosage of the wegressing agent had a counter effect." The toddler tapped her lip and then shrugged again. "I can't think of a better way to exp'ain we'll y..." She yawned and closed her eyes.

"So we sorta know why we're different ages but that doesn't help with what we're going to do tomorrow."

"I think you're right, Raye," the eight year old blonde agreed. "I wanna be with my parents but that'll be a sticky wombat." She jumped up on the table and struck a pose. "Not to mention that everybody knows that Mina Aino is a SEXY young woman. Plus there's my Sailor V and volleyball stuff. Like I said, a lot of people who know I'm a teenager." At Raye and Serena's glare, she hopped off.

"I know," the preschooler chimed in. "While I assume Reenie's using Luna Ball to make adjustments to our family and friends is possible, I don't know how long the effect would wast... Not to mention what will we all do when Reenie goes home to the future?"

The Sailor Scout of Venus scowled as she announced, "Sorry, girlfriends, I don't want that thing anywhere near my 'rents. I don't trust her." Her scowl deepened, she put her hands on her hips, and gave her princess a hard look. "I can't believe you wussed out on punishing the little pink brat."

Serena opened her mouth to protest but Raye interposed herself. "I don't think she did."

Mina gave the priestess a puzzled look. "Excuse me? You were just as loud in calling for Reenie's pigtails as I was, fire breath."

"I know, but I thought about it and what Serena did actually made some sense."

"Huh? How do you figure that, Raye?" Mina asked before draining the rest of her orange juice. Amy squirmed off of Serena's lap and vanished under the table but no one noticed.

"Look, I'm not saying I'm not gonna push for something more than her being grounded tomorrow after I've had some sleep and can think past our immediate needs. But I can see Serena's point. The kid was expecting Serena to drop a planet on her head." The preteen shook her head and smiled slightly. "I know I'd be thinking that if I was in Reenie's shoes." 'And much younger, and I would be.' "The fact that Serena didn't will make what she DOES do later more effective."

"Exactwy. Quality over quantity," Amy seconded from under the table. The others blinked and then pushed back to stare at the toddler. She wiggled to get more comfortable and then sighed. "I'm in a lot worse position than Mina."

"Sweetie," Serena asked gently, "What are you doing under there?"

"Explowing a cave," the toddler answered seriously.

"Yeah... okay," the eight year old blonde said dryly, "So why do you figure you're worse off than me? I mean my parents might actually like me being a kid again. They'd be thrilled to make sure my grades improve this time around." 'And what about the hunks?'

"Mina, it's not that. I'm only thwee. Even the brightest thwee year old is going to be under close supervision. I can pwobably contribute to scientific wesearch but getting that information and being informed about what's happening on the Sailor Scout enviwonment is going to be twicky. I love my mom and I'll likely stay with her. But the fact is Mother was busy even when I was little and with her being older this time around and having more 'sponsibility now..." The little girl shrugged. "My adjustment factor is going to be hardest." She considered, "I either act dumb, and I don't think I could do that long or I'm a super-prodigy and I'll be under a microscope twenty-four/seven. Not good." She swiveled about to regard Serena. "You know, Sewena, you and Lita have the best options. Lita can't live alone anymore at seven but even if her being your dawter doesn't realistically work out, there's a lot more options available to you than either Mina or I." Amy tapped her lip. "My minicomputer can hack into the necessawy government mainframes to acquire documents so we're covered that way... We just need to determine which ones we need."

"You're right... which just makes figuring out what we're going to do, and how Reenie eventually leaving will impact us. Not to mention how the new Sailor Scouts are gonna handle future Negaverse attacks." Serena paused and then looked under the table. "You okay?" she asked Amy who slowly shook her head, "What's wrong?"

"Sowry, Sewena, my bwain's all mushy..." Amy complained and then asked plaintively, "Can I go to bed?"

"Yeah, we can hammer out what to do tomorrow," the middle-aged woman agreed. "Come on." She held out her arms. The toddler crawled from under the table and held her arms up so Serena could pick her up. When she did so, Amy rested her head on Serena's shoulder and closed her eyes. "Anybody else for bed?"

"No," Mina replied, "I'm thirsty."

"Still?" Serena asked, "You just had some OJ."

The little blonde shrugged and then shot a look towards Raye who waved her towards the refrigerator. Mina grinned, got up, went over, and pulled the door open. "What about you, little sis?"

"I'm good, big sis," Lita replied and then yawned. She grinned. "Really..." Another yawn but Serena didn't say anything.

"I'm gonna make a quick snack. I haven't eaten anything all night," Raye commented. She seemed disgustingly alert to Serena who really did want to crawl under the covers.

"In that case, I'll be back in a couple minutes." Turning, the pigtailed woman walked towards the door. She had crossed the threshold when she heard Mina give a squeal of delight. Pausing, the adult listened wondering if she needed to go back in.

"Chocolate milk!"

"That's Chad's," Raye pointed out in a disapproving tone.

"Oh come on. He won't mind."

"You don't know him... Besides, should you really be drinking something like that before bed?"

"Raye-Raye, chocolate is associated with love. I am probably the world's leading expert on love..." Raye snorted. Serena could almost hear Lita rolling her eyes from the hallway. "This," Mina's voice declared. There was a sloshing sound. "Is simply liquid love."

"Oh brother..." the little brunette muttered, "I think I'm gonna be sick."

"Well when Chad starts asking who drank his stash of chocolate milk, I'm telling him you did."

Serena shook her head, shifted Amy into a more comfortable position, and walked down the hall while her three friends continued their "discussion".

- - - - -

Serena paused outside of Raye's bedroom door cocking her head for a moment. Then quietly she opened the door and stepped inside. As she did so, she could hear Reenie talking softly. Talking wasn't really the right term for it since she wasn't talking to anyone; it was more rambling. The middle-aged woman waited for her eyes to adjust to the dimness in the bedroom and then she padded softly across the floor.

"Reenie?" she said gently. Abruptly, the little girl stopped. There was an uneasy silence from where the seven year old was lying. "I'm gonna turn on a light." Not wanting a bright light, she carefully picked her way to the bed and found the bedside lamp.

As it flared to life, she turned her attention to her cousin in the sleeping bag. Reenie looked miserable. Even as she stared with worried eyes at Serena. Tears trickled out of her bloodshot eyes. She sniffed and looked thoroughly unhappy.

"Where's your sleeping bag, Ames?"

"I'll sweep with Reenie," the toddler mumbled out. She shifted a bit as if snuggling closer and not even opening her eyes.

The meatball-headed blonde looked at her cousin and asked, "Ames, wants to sleep with you. Would that be okay?" Reenie nodded jerkily. "Sweetie, you want me to brush out your hair first? You haven't taken it down yet."

"'Kay."

"Get your brush out while I tuck Amy in. She's pretty much out of it." By the time Reenie had retrieved her hairbrush from her overnight bag, Serena had settled Amy's tiny form into the seven year old's sleeping bag. "You sure you want Amy sleeping with you?"

The youngster nodded. 'Wish I could sleep with Serena.' Reenie mentally snorted. 'Yeah, as if that'll happen!' She glanced towards her sleeping bag and noticed that three year old Amy Anderson was deeply asleep.

Just as Serena was undoing one of Reenie's puffy pink pigtails, the door opened. Both Tsukino's turned to see whom it was. As it turned out, it was Lita looking quite drowsy and ready to join her smaller companion in slumber.

The seven year old blinked when she spotted Reenie sitting on Serena's lap. She raised an eyebrow questioningly. "I'm brushing out Reenie's hair. You want yours done too, Lita?"

"That'd be great, Mommy," Lita replied. She walked over to Raye's bed, flopped face-first down on it, wriggled further up it, and then rolled to her side. "What a day..."

"Where are the others?" her princess asked as she finally undid one pigtail and started brushing out the fluffy pink hair.

"Raye's stuffing her face and Mina's daydreaming about boys," Lita answered sleepily. 'At least, Mina's acting normal.'

"Don't go to sleep," Serena joked, "Raye'll be mad if she comes in here and finds you conked out on her bed."

"I like her bed..." the brunette commented and then added, "If this whole mess hadn't happened, we could've all stayed up talking until the sun came up." Lazily, she reached up and started undoing her ponytail.

"I... I didn't mean it to go this way," Reenie mumbled. Slouching and rubbing her eyes, more tears threatened to spill out. "I mean it just happened. I'm really sorry."

"Yeah well... Sorry doesn't mean shi..." Lita began and then stopped abruptly as Serena touched her gently.

"I-I mean it shouldn't've happened," Reenie was saying more to herself than Lita, apparently not paying attention to the other little girl. "It shouldn't've been that hard." The pink-haired girl sniffled. "Everybody hates me now."

"Reenie," Serena said sternly, "Nobody hates you."

"You don't but the others do," Reenie disagreed and then shook her head, "I-I'm sorry... I didn't mean to talkback..." She seemed worried Serena might explode. "I-It's just that I don't get it." She threw up her hands and bounced from Serena's lap. One pigtail was still done up; it made her look off-balance. "I tried an... I wan'ed us to have fun!"

"Shhhh..." Serena admonished glancing towards Amy but the sleeping toddler didn't stir. One part of her noted that Amy had her thumb ensconced in her mouth.

"Sorry, I just can... I mean I don't know how I'm gonna make up for this. I keep saying I'm sorry but know nobody believes me." The youngster was nearly wringing her hands together.

Lita sat up and slid to the edge of the bed. She put her hands on her hips and glowered at the seven year old before her. "Well, that's because..."

"Lita," Serena hissed with quiet firmness. The brunette gave her blond friend a long look, blew out a breath, and looked at the ground while swinging her feet.

"Sweetie, come here and let me finish, then you can go to bed."

The pink-haired girl from the future reluctantly did so still fidgeting about; Reenie stood facing away from Serena. After a moment of silence, she started mumbling again, "I just don't get it. Luna Ball's never done this before." After a moment, Reenie fell silent, brooding.

She undid the second pigtail and started brush out the youngster's long pink hair again. She hummed softly trying to soothe Reenie. Unfortunately, the only thing it did accomplish was to get Lita to snuggle into her side.

Little Lita jerked upright as Reenie burst out suddenly, "It's always gave me what I wanted if it could!" There was a pause as Reenie drew in a deep breath and then sighed. "I can't even use Luna Ball to fix stuff 'cause I don't know why..." She started to shake her head but Serena firmly held it still. "I-I just wanted... I mean Luna Ball should've let us have fun. I just wanted us to play in the snow tomorrow 'n' stay up late and stuff. It shouldn't've turned you into kids and... And..." The seven year old at this point softly began to cry. Serena sighed and gently turned the little girl towards her.

"Reenie," Serena said, "You need to stop crying."

"B-but, what if the Sailor Scouts can't help me or Mommy no more?"

"Reenie, we went out and saved you, right?" She nodded. "And we came looking for you because we were worried."

"I'm sorry. I know I should've stayed. I was scared Raye knew and when they found the cookies... I don't know why though I mean." Reenie paused breathing hard and her mouth working but nothing came out.

"Calm down, sweetie. You don't want to have your energy beam go off, do you? That would bring those Negacreeps back," the middle-aged woman cautioned gently. She continued brushing the seven year old's hair. The child rapidly shook her head and gulped several times as if trying to clear something from her throat. "Well then, you need to stop worrying about it right now. We'll talk about it in the morning."

"But I can't!" Reenie cried with so much despair that it made Serena's heart ache. The youngster began to sob now and Serena drew her in and held her close. "What if Luna Ball's broke? How will I know when it's okay to go home? What if Mommy or Daddy gets hurt worser?!" she cried into Serena's chest.

Lita was glancing between Reenie, Serena, and the still sleeping Amy. 'How can she sleep through this?' "Look, I'm sure Sailor Pluto if not your parents would come and get you or let you know," she guessed to try and comfort the little girl (like her) who seemed inconsolable.

"What if Luna Ball don't work right no more? I'll be stuck here and have to go away from Auntie Ellen and Uncle Ken," Reenie blubbered.

"Reenie, they wouldn't just send you away," Serena assured her desperately trying to think of something that would snap her little cousin out of it. "Besides, you don't know for sure that Luna Ball is broken."

"It gots to be," Reenie replied, raising her head to regard Serena. Her eyes were wide and horrified and her nose was starting to run, "I messed up and I'm sorry... Really, I am... I mean I told Luna Ball to make you guys ACT like kids and see what happened? And I said some other stuff and that didn't work because Amy said it was gonna last forever and it shouldn't've... And nobody believes that I'm sorry and everybody wants you to... to... It's never done this stuff before. But it went all wonky. I said only last until lunch but Amy says it'll last longer so something GOTS to be wrong, right?"

"Sweetie," the blond matron said soothingly, "Sweetie, please you need to calm down, or you're gonna be sick." She produced a tissue from somewhere and held it to the little girl's nose. "Now blow."

As Reenie blew her nose, Lita frowned at her for a moment, then asked, "Hang on a second, kiddo... What did you tell Luna Ball?"

"I just said that I wanted you guys to have fun like kids so we could all play in the snow and stuff..." The seven year old added with a sigh. "And there ain't even no snow to play in."

"Yeah but didn't you say something else?" the little brunette interjected.

"I don't think so. Just that I'm really REALLY sorry, Lita. I know I was really naughty and..."

"I know that, Reenie," Lita interrupted, "I wasn't talking about that." Reenie looked puzzled, so did Serena.

"I don't know, what did I say?" the seven year old asked, sniffling. She frowned slightly when Serena presented another tissue for her use.

"Didn't you say something about it wearing off?"

"N-No..."

"Wait, Reenie, didn't you say something about it ending by lunch and you thought it wasn't supposed to last?" the brunette questioned. Serena's ears perked up then she resumed brushing the little girl's hair.

The pink-haired youngster frowned. "It wasn't s'pposed to, but I don't think it worked."

Silence filled the room as the trio thought about the information they'd learned. After another minute or so, Reenie's hair was brushed out. At the blonde's gesture, the two little girls traded places.

"Let me get this straight. You're... you are trying to tell me this whole thing was supposed to be temporary?" Lita prodded as Serena started brushing out her hair.

"T-Temp-porary?" That was a big word. "Would it help if it was?" Reenie returned curiously.

"Not where YOUR punishment is concerned, young lady," Serena put in with a frown. "You just aren't making this up, are you?" The girl shook her head. "Are you really sure about this?"

Reenie screwed up her face in thought and then nodded slowly, "Yeah... I told Luna Ball to end it by lunch 'cause I knew Lita would make us lunch or something and we were gonna leave then." She shrugged. "But Amy said it was perm... gonna last forever."

The matron started humming softly again and she smiled internally as she saw both children relaxing. She felt a smile form as she considered the petite seven year old on her lap. 'She's a cutie...' The combination of framing brown hair, serious green eyes, and a look of concentration made Lita look younger than she physically was. A huge contrast to the tall, intimidating, and "talented" teen she knew. 'Maybe I won't mention that...' Serena frowned slightly, 'Lita's hair...'

Her mental question went unasked as her "daughter" spoke up, "So? The question becomes do we wake our little genius up to ask her to run another scan."

The middle-aged woman considered for several seconds and then shook her head. "Ames has scanned us a bunch of times already. I can't see her missing something like this."

"It's 'portant though, right?" Reenie asked.

"Sure, it is... but waiting until morning won't change nothing. I mean even if it's true and Amy said that things will wear off, she couldn't speed the process up anyways, right?" Both children nodded. 'But do we dare not to?' Serena wondered.

"It's pretty shaky," the brunette agreed, "And why get up people's hopes. Reenie's caused enough trouble and they might..."

"I know, and I know you are really really ticked at me," Reenie sobbed softly. "That's why I didn't come out and tell you guys. I sorta forgot to I guess... but I just... just..."

Serena looked right at Reenie and asked, "Why did you do this, Reenie?" Reenie blinked, so did Lita. The pink-haired girl looked puzzled for a moment and then her features smoothed.

"Well, when I was at Lita's... we got talkin' and stuff and..."

"Oh?" the blonde wondered while glancing between the pair of second-graders. When it became clear neither was going to elaborate, she asked, "And?"

"And Lita was saying how lucky I was to be seven... She sorta wanted to be a kid again." Reenie grinned sheepishly. "I thought she was being silly. But I thought if, you know, we could all have fun and play together... Just for a little bit, we'd have fun and Lita would get her wish." 'And Lita could be my friend like Missy.'

Serena turned and gave the other girl a long calculating look, which made said girl blush. "Lita?"

"Well, Mommy, you see... I did sorta say something like that," the brunette confessed. "But... do we gotta tell the others? Mina'll howl for my scalp for sure!"

"Don't be silly," Serena admonished gently and gave each girl a hug. She then turned to Reenie. "I want to be clear on this again, young lady. Even if this is temporary and the magic wears off... you're in very deep trouble."

"Yes ma'am, I know," Reenie replied while blushing.

Serena nodded and then sighed a little. "Okay... Lita, go tell them."

Lita gave Serena a dubious look, "Okay, Mommy, but I think YOU should tell them."

Serena smiled and stroked Lita's hair gently. "Jeez... I'll go tell them." The middle-aged woman got up. "You two wait here. I'll be right back." Both seven year olds watched her leave the room.

"L-Lita?"

"Yeah?" Lita asked regarding Reenie sitting on the bed beside her. When the bigger girl didn't say anything, she continued, "I don't hate you, Reenie. I kinda like this. Maybe if you had asked me... I'm just mad about my cookies."

"I know," the pink-haired girl admitted, pushing her index fingers together much as Serena would do; it made Lita smile a little. Reenie's next question though completely startled her. "D'ya wanna spank me?"

- - - - -

A short time later, Raye and Mina were staring dumbfounded at Serena. "Are you like completely totally serious?" Mina asked.

"According to Reenie, what she told Luna Ball was for it to stop at lunch or around there," the blonde woman explained. "She ain't sure if it'd work that way given what's already happened."

"And you don't want to wake Amy up for possibly no reason?" the raven-haired preteen questioned. Serena nodded Raye considered for a moment and then agreed. "Yes... that makes sense. I can't fault your reasoning, Meatball Head." She grinned as Serena stuck her tongue out although it was only half-hearted.

"I guess... 'though it would be nice to know tonight."

"We can wait until morning," Serena decided, which made the little eight year old pout. "I think we should all get a majorly good night's sleep." 'I don't know how Mom does it!' The others nodded in agreement although Raye seemed reluctant for a moment. However, she stood and followed Serena and Mina out of the kitchen shutting the lights off as she did.

When they entered Raye's bedroom, Reenie and Lita looked up and blushed as Serena narrowed her eyes at the guilty expression on the pair's faces. "What were you two up to?"

"Nothing," both seven year olds squeaked in unison.

Serena folded her arms and gave both children a dubious look. "Reenie?" she asked.

Before Reenie could answer, Lita piped up, "We were just talking about something we talked about at my place yesterday." The brunette gave the group of older girls an angelic smile. "Really." 'We were just talking... So why do I feel so queasy?' After a heartbeat, she answered her own silent question, 'Because it was something private about Serena that she obviously didn't tell Reenie...'

"Promise?" Serena asked, the little brunette looked indignant but Reenie nodded.

"You're in a lot of trouble, Princess..." Raye drawled. This made both younger girls blush.

"Nah, they're both too cute... How much harm can they do?" the pigtailed blonde asked while walking over to sit on Raye's bed. She grinned as both girls settled next to her.

"Ra-ye?" Mina asked sweetly.

"Yeah?"

"Can I sleep in your bed?" The little blonde gave the shrine maiden a pleading look.

"It's Raye's bed," Serena pointed out.

"But it's so comfy and bouncy..."

"Were you jumping on my bed?" Raye demanded, whirling on beribboned girl.

"Lita did it too!" Mina declared.

"Shush you two!" Serena admonished, "You'll wake up Amy." Mina pouted.

"You're out of luck, shrimp," the raven-haired girl announced. "I'm giving it to Serena." Mina started to protest but Raye added, "It's the most comfortable spot around here and we're all younger than she is now."

'Yeah, those sleeping bags don't look so comfortable now,' Serena thought but said aloud, "Amy might have some trouble if she needs the toilet. Maybe I should sleep by her."

"I can help!" Reenie offered. "Really I can. You had me help her before!" She looked earnestly at Serena. "Amy wanted to sleep with me too."

"But if you cuddle with Amy, where am I gonna sleep?" Lita nearly whined.

"With a teddy bear? Maybe a green one since you seem to be jealous of poor Amy," Mina suggested sweetly.

"Idol wannabe!"

Mina looked like she wanted to explode but Serena stepped in. "Girls, don't fight. It's way majorly late."

"Sorry," Lita murmured while blushing slightly, "Mommy's right. It's late."

"Yeah, okay..." Mina agreed. She stuck out her tongue when the others weren't looking. "Serena... I'll trade you for Raye's bed."

"I'm only letting Serena use it, Mina," the raven-haired preteen groused. "Besides, what could you possibly give her that she'd be willing to NOT be comfortable for the night?"

"Sailor V's autograph?" Mina chirped happily.

"Oh brother," was the general response, although Reenie looked mildly puzzled.

"Well then," Serena looked to her young cousin, "I think it's only fair that Reenie helps Amy." The pink-haired girl nodded. "Unless you want to wake up in the middle of the night for bathroom trips, Miss Aino?"

"I can do it!" Reenie squeaked. "Please Serena?!"

Serena looked questioningly at Mina who only shuffled her feet. "We're agreed then. Reenie, you are Amy's unofficial big sister. You stick to her like glue, clear?" She smiled slightly as Reenie saluted. "So unless there are any other objections... Let's go to bed." She gave Raye a hug, "My old bones appreciate your offer, and I accept!"

"Well in that case, Raye has to be my buddy!" the little blonde declared while latching onto Raye.

'Kami help me...' Raye thought while closing her eyes.

- - - - -

"Comfy Mina?" Lita Kino inquired sweetly a few minutes later. She and Serena were snuggled together in Raye's bed while Amy and Reenie curled together in Reenie's sleeping bag; both children were sound asleep. Mina and Raye (much to Raye's disgust) were sharing two sleeping bags joined together.

"No!"

"Oh... some-body is j-e-a-l-o-u-s... I bet her eyes are green now," Lita mock-whispered. "Yeah... It's the attack of the green-eyed monster!"

"I heard that, shorty!" Mina protested.

"Go to sleep, Mina," Serena growled tiredly.

"You can't tell... OW! Raye, I'm not some fire vision ya know!"

"Mi-na," the lone adult hissed more repressively.

"You ain't my mom, Serena. Just 'cause you're old now doesn't mean I havta listen to you. We'll be back to normal tomorrow," the eight year old blonde commented. 'I hope.'

Serena lifted her head enough so she could spy the scowling face of Sailor Venus. "As the Moon Princess, I can always," she began warily, "Make your condition permanent, little girl." 'Her parents would likely thank me.'

"You wouldn't." When Serena started reaching for her broach, Mina's eyes grew wide and she exclaimed, "Okay! Okay! Uncle!" And with that, the little girl wriggled herself into a more comfortable position. She went to sleep almost immediately snoring in Raye's ear.

"That was way mean," Lita giggled softly and as her temporary mother settled back under the covers.

"I can do the same to you, daughter," Serena pointed out softly.

"Sure, you can, MOMMY." Lita grinned and then chewed her lip for a moment. "Would you though?" The middle-aged woman cocked an eyebrow. "I mean that would be kinda cool. I could live with you then."

"I don't think I'm ready to be an adult yet, Lita."

"I guess... but I could still live with you and Sammy and Reenie."

Serena moved closer and lowered her voice more. As she held Lita in a loose hug, she asked softly, "You would really want to grow up again? I mean you'd be living under my roof. Despite the way Reenie acts, my mom's pretty strict and you seem to be an adventurous kid." The brunette blushed. "And besides, you'd have to put up with Sammy all the time." The little girl grunted. "You know, Lita, you can always call me if you're lonely."

"I know... Thanks. It's just I like this."

"What? Being hugged?"

"Yeah, well all of it." The little girl sighed a little and shifted closer. "Your mom doesn't seem so bad, but I know what you mean." She felt Serena starting to stroke her hair and she closed her eyes for a moment remembering her own mother doing the same thing. After a few moments, she continued tenderly, "Y'know, Reenie's not a bad kid." When her grownup friend snorted softly, Lita shook her head slightly. "Listen, Serena, call me crazy but I think Reenie acts up because she desperately wants to prove she's not a little kid in front of those people who matter to her most, namely you and Darien and the rest of us." She quickly glanced at all her friends fast asleep.

"Come on. Lita, she doesn't think..." the blonde whispered fiercely.

"Did you when you were that age?"

"Yeah... Well... I didn't have a magic ball and a need to be grownup."

"Not even a little?" When Serena mumbled something, which sounded suspiciously like, "Well..." Lita laughed softly. "Every kid wants to grow up and wants to do the things that older kids or their big brothers and sisters get to do."

"And how does that apply to Reenie?"

"Serena, she fled home and desperately wants to be a good girl, be brave for her parents..." The brunette was quiet for a few moments. "I would do anything to save them if my parents were in the situation hers is. We know what the Negaverse is like and we don't yet have all the details. Just imagine being away from home and something as scary as Rubeus and the rest of those Negacreeps after you."

"Are you saying I shouldn't punish her, Lita?"

"No, but when she acts up, I think it's because she wants to show she's not weak, that she's a big girl, and she can fix things." Lita considered for a few moments, listening to the soft breathing of her other companions as they slept. "I think Reenie blames herself for whatever happened to her mom."

"How do you figure that?" Serena questioned shocked. Eyes widening.

Lita shrugged slightly before answering, "Just a gut feeling. When my parents first died... Sometimes... Sometimes I thought I was the cause." Her friend didn't say anything but only hugged her closer. After a moment, the brunette nodded, more to herself than to Serena. "I know now it's not true but I'm older now... Well, you know what I mean. The fact that Reenie desperately wants to fix whatever is going on in the future, despite the fact we said we'd help, makes me think she figures that she's responsible for whatever happened."

"Any recommendations oh wise Sailor Scout of Jupiter?"

"Well if I was you, and I'm not but if I was, I'd sit Reenie down for a 'grownup' talk after the dust settles. A talk about what happened before she showed. I'm not saying ask her what the future is like or anything but maybe just ask her what happened before the attack."

"You think that might help?"

"Can't hurt."

Serena was quiet for several seconds. So long in fact that Lita thought that she had drifted off to sleep. But then, she sighed deeply and said, "I guess I can do that. But I need to figure out what to do with her now."

"That's simple," Lita chirped.

"Oh?"

"Serena, this is majorly serious. You need to come down on her as hard as you can. You need to be firm but don't razz on her either." There was a few more seconds silence and then the brunette continued, "Have a mother-daughter talk with her and..."

"And..."

"Just be your lovable goofy self." She giggled as Serena swatted her on the rump playfully.

"Go to sleep."

"Yes Mommy."

There was silence in the room for a few minutes. Serena was on the edge of sleep when Lita asked, "Say Mommy?"

"Hmmm?"

"Since you're not dating Darien no more, can I?"

"Go to sleep," Serena commanded.

"I will, but can I? I mean he looks like my last boyfriend and... OW!"

"Sleep. Now."

"'Kay Mommy," the seven year old agreed and then mumbled, "I wonder where he hides all those roses?"

"L-i-t-a..." Serena ground out warningly.

"Shh! Wita's sweeping..." Lita got out between muffled giggles. She burrowed against Serena, closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep. Serena wasn't long in drifting off asleep.

Outside, it began to snow tucking the city into a blanket of pure white and peaceful silence.

End of Chapter 8

Coming next in Chapter 9 - Morning Madness